Check this out- this guy gutted an old motorcycle and installed some car batteries and an electric motor. Don’t have too many details, but he says it will go 50mph and last about 20 miles between charges. Cost equivalent of about 300 mpg. He only uses it for quick trips around town- bank, post office, etc where it is most effecient. No doubt, a company like Honda or any of the big 4 could really do something cool with this. Completely green and as close to free as you can get. But heck, a SV650 or similar bike will get 50 MPG+ and be way more fun. I guess it really depends on what you are going to use it for. I’d love to see the specs for the motor and controller. Using some good lithium-ion batteries would extend the range and the speed.

How bad would gas prices have to get before you would be caught on one of these? Autoblog Green has the details, but the pedal/electric bike made by erocit is capable of 50mph and when you pedal you recharge the battery (a little). In addition, you can always get home even if the batteries are dead! Still, if you lived in a downtown area and needed a scooter type bike, it might be viable. It’s just so ugly. Maybe the aftermarket can come up with some decent styling…

He has a reputation for being somewhat wild and his new helmet upholds that rep. Very funny! It is actually hard to miss on the track

A quick little video over at the MotoGP site with Nicky doing a lap at the Indy 500 as a promo for the motoGP series. Thanks Jerry…

We all know about the really famous celeb riders like Jay Leno but there are many more who don’t have their own TV show that enjoy and support motorcycling. Heck, motorcycling has literally created celebrities in the past few years like the OCC crew and Jesse James to name a couple. But there are lots more out there and the Motorcycle Museum in Pickerington, OH is running a display on them, their lives and their passion for riding. Check it out-

PICKERINGTON, OHIO – “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles,” the new exhibit opening at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum on June 28, 2008, continues to add motorcycle enthusiasts from music, screen and industry.  Keith Urban is the latest rider to contribute an exclusive machine and personal memorabilia.  The multi-platinum selling artist is loaning his custom Vengeance Drifter, a signature Fender Telecaster guitar named “Clarence” and a special collection of personal photos to “MotoStars,” allowing exhibit visitors an in-depth look at his passion for motorcycling.

 

Urban is one of the country’s leading performers, consistently selling out arenas worldwide.  His first solo album in the U.S., 1999’s self-titled effort, went platinum.  Urban’s most recent albums, 2004’s “Be Here” and 2007’s “Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing,” both debuted at number one on Billboard’s Country Chart.  When not touring or in the studio, Urban often can be found out on a ride, clearing his head on one of his motorcycles.  A longtime enthusiast, Urban bought the Vengeance “7” Drifter to be displayed in the “MotoStars” exhibit on impulse at the legendary Sturgis Rally in 2006.

 

Urban will join a group of more than 100 prominent personalities contributing motorcycles and memorabilia to the “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit.  Notable actors, artists, athletes, musicians, CEOs, and bike builders have provided priceless machines and exclusive ephemera for the milestone exhibit.  Motorcycle manufacturers, notably Victory Motorcycles, have also given the exhibit significant support.

Check out this video of the last lap at the Oulton Park Supersport race in Britain. Yamaha vs Triumph. Great racing and just plain fun to watch. (Thanks Matt)

Today’s press release from BMW announced the availability of their new Boxer twin sport bike in the US. I don’t know about you, but for 25,000.00 there are a lot of options out there. In terms of sportbikes, you could buy a GSXR1000, 600 and a lot of upgrades for that kind of money. Or you could buy a Ducati 1098S and still have a few grand leftover for upgrades… No doubt the BMW will have a following, but it is hard to imagine it competing on the showroom floor at that price.

The Latest Sportiest Boxer Arrives at U.S. BMW Motorrad Retailers
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - May 9, 2008… Thrill seekers rejoice! The BMW HP2 Sport has arrived at U.S. BMW Motorrad retailers. The same high-performance sport bike that Richard Cooper and Brian Parriott rode to fifth and sixth place finishes in last month’s Daytona 200 is now available in limited supplies for serious motorcycle enthusiasts. The high-performance (HP) two (2)-cylinder Boxer — customized to meet the requirements of the ambitious sport rider — has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $25,375 (excluding taxes, license, options, and handling charge).

The sportiest, most powerful and lightest Boxer ever manufactured, the HP2 Sport features numerous exclusive details, previously restricted to racing, that were never before seen in series production vehicles. Technology such as the self-supporting and aerodynamically optimized fairings made completely of carbon fiber, the quick shifter, a dashboard similar to that used in the MotoGP, the forged aluminum wheels and brakes with radially bolted calipers make the HP2 unmistakably athletic on both country roads or the racing circuit.

The most striking difference between the BMW HP2 Sport from the earlier endurance racing Boxer is the brand new cylinder heads: each of the double overhead camshafts (DOHC) uses a drag lever to actuate the valves that are larger than those on the BMW R 1200 S. Further modifications, such as the flow-optimized intake and outlet, new forged pistons and adapted connecting rod, help the engine to achieve the necessary higher output compared to the basic engine. A new stainless steel exhaust system is placed below the engine for the first time, keeping the lower area of the motorcycle extremely slim for greater freedom of movement for a “hanging off” riding position. Although designed for racing prowess, the BMW HP2 Sport does not forego the safety benefits of ABS. A sophisticated anti-blocking system, specially adapted to the HP2 Sport, is available as an option and is configured so that it can be deactivated for the racetrack.

Following the BMW Motorrad Motorsport design, the HP2 Sport features white lacquering on the windshield, rear, mudguard and side cover. The engine spoiler carries the two-tone “HP2″ lettering; and the lattice frame and wheels are lacquered in the BMW Motorrad color of Motorsport Blue.

If you have ever wanted to see a classic high side crash in slow motion, check out the video of Jorge Lorenzo crashing in the China MotoGP race. That hurts just watching. Thanks Jerry!

Sounds crazy, but Gary Eagan is planning on doing it. He got the invite and chose a Ducati 1098S as the means of conveyance. Personally, I think I would have chosen something a little more comfortable (actually, I would have said NO!), but the 1098 has had a bunch of mods to enhance comfort as well as extend its range. With only one rider, the biggest challenge will be the 35+ hours required to make the cross country trip with no sleep. Doable, but surely a dangerous undertaking. OneWheelDrive.net has the whole article and it is worth the time to read it. (Thanks Jerry!)

Here’s the tricky part.  All the cars would have at least two drivers and loads of extra fuel, while as a moto jockey, I’d be a solo act with obvious limits on how much gasoline could be carried.

It took me at least a couple of seconds to swallow that hook. The table was set for fun ‘n games.

I ran the invitation past Steve Hicks, Ducati’s Canadian Service and Events Manager, and Jim McKenna, Ducati’s Sales and Marketing Manager for Canada. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and Hicks simply said; “This’ll be great. But you’re doing it on a 1098.”  McKenna grinned in agreement.

Hicks is a master mechanic, and knows only one way to do things…with perfection. At the Toronto Motorcycle Show, and Hicks walked over to a Multistrada, took off the saddlebags, then held them along side our show-display black 1098 S, adding; “This is what we’re going to do. I’ve actually been thinking about doing this for a while now.”

Fitting the make over into his brutal work schedule was difficult, but in March Steve e-mailed me a picture, introducing me to what he called the “1098 Bagger.” He’d welded the bag mounts from the Multistrada to the sub frame, and when he mounted the bags it looked more like a factory-designed machine than a one-off tossed together in a garage. At least to my eye, it was a masterpiece.

Next step was increasing the fuel capacity, so I contacted Fuel Safe near Bend, Oregon, a company specializing in making custom fuel bladders for NASCAR, F 1 machines and airplanes. I sent them the Multistrada bags, Hicks gave them the green light to cook up a workable solution, and a month later they sent back another masterpiece. Semi-rigid fuel bladders for each bag, exactly fitting the interior shape of the Multi’s bags, and each holding about five gallons of fuel. They designed and installed beautiful billet filler nozzles protruding through the top of the bags and quick-release caps, allowing quick refilling without opening the bags.

Well, I was driving around Buckhead in Atlanta this afternoon and I saw a red 848 pulling out into traffic. Such a pretty bike… I am really torn between the red and white bikes. Both look awesome.  So here is the 848 press launch for your viewing enjoyment. It is 9 min long, so go get some popcorn.

These bikes were sick fast for their day and the level of tire/suspension/frame technology that they had or didn’t have. They still have a reputation and a rabid following. So it’s no wonder that Motorcyclist is doing a retro issue next month with the H1 and the Honda CB750 featured. I can almost smell the 2 stroke exhaust- thanks Jerry, for the link…

Update-”Curt,the photo shoot was for a whole new magazine published by Motocyclist available mid-May.Not next month’s issue of Motorcyclist.”

COOL, we get another magazine to read every month!

Yep, 11 days until the AMA doubleheader (April 18-20) at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. It should be another Mat Mladin show… You can get all the detail at their website as well as order tickets. A couple of years ago, Ducati had their Monster Challenge at this event and it was great. Usually, the weather is excellent this time of year so make plans to come to one of the nicest tracks in the US.

MCN has a nice little video of the Desmosedici riding around the city (not sure which city…) but it is worth watching just to listen to the engine. Lust is a bad thing.

Check out this video of Colin Edwards picking his bike up from a low side “crash”… except he never really crashed, he just picked the bike back up mid-corner at speed. Crazy. Thanks Jerry for the link!

And they like it… a lot. Well, who wouldn’t. I mean sick horsepower and the resultant speed are really, really addicting. Motive rides and lives to write about it.The flamed out bike they chose is a little gaudy, but hey, they usually have better taste- at least with cars. BTW, they have one of the slickest, well done websites around. The car articles are worth reading too!

We were headed for the hills, but had a few freeway exits to roll past first. Riding in a legal/normal fashion, the ZX-14 is plush, comfortable, and quiet. The ergonomics are just right and I could easily see rolling up a 500-mile day on this bike without needing ibuprofen with my dinner. We turned left to head up the mountain toward Lake Arrowhead and the road soon turned curvy. Funny thing about this road: I didn’t remember hearing that someone had removed all the straightaways. Even at partial throttle at anything above 5 grand I found myself giggling and thinking, “Damn! This thing is crazy fast.” Twisting the throttle at corner exits is like bringing a howitzer to a barfight. Sure you’ll win, but who’s gonna clean up the mess? So I pictured my children, decided I wanted to see them again, and short-shifted. This is how I learned to love the revised midrange and the long, completely linear and predictable ramp of torque. The bike is just as thrilling as last year’s model, but is now easier to ride and therefore safer. Speaking of which, slowing down is sometimes necessary and it’s nice that the petal-style brake rotors shed heat so you won’t boil your Dot-5 when doing repeated downhill stoppies.